COSTA RICA 2018: Less Homicides ... BUT. (Good news and bad news).

Today (December 27), the number of Homicides in COSTA RICA reached 575. Considering that only 4 days are left, the final countdown may reach (despite a possible, but unlikely catastrophe), around 580-585. This is clearly a success of the new President Carlos Alvarado (picture, right, 38), government (May 2018) because 2017 ended with 603 murders. Now there are other elements of concern. The murder rate will remain above 10 for each 100.000, so we are still in epidemic rate of violence. The murder of tourists (3 females, one from Mexico, one from Spain and one from Venezuela), ignited alarms. This is clearly the worst security news of the country during the year. The number of gender female killings ("Feminicidios") remained similar to 2017 (25 ,018 VS 26, 2017), with a likely chance to finally rise (the New Years Eve is particularly violent in families of Costa Rica). How this did happened? We had addressed in several articles (see below) why the security policies in Costa Rica had recurrently failed and how they can be fixed. There may be, as always several reasons of the success, but truly one key factor of the 2018 security tour-de-force is the role of Michael Soto, (picture, left, 42), the 20+ police veteran, who became the Minister of Security with Alvarado. A young lawyer, criminologist, and former head of Criminal Analysis Unit of the Judicial Police (local FBI), with no political tienes neither political experience, was vastly praised when appointed. Soto based his security strategy in the so-called "Megaoperativos" (Mega police operations), a massive concentrations of the police forces in the country well identified "hot crime zones". These police operations were commanded by SOTO himself, even in the most dangerous places, putting the morale of the police at the highest level ever. As former head of the main strategic criminal intelligence unit in the country no one knows best the subject. The strategy clearly paid-off, as did in similar countries in Latin America, there are IADB, Insight Crime and Igarapé reports that highlight such sucess. The recent, "National Plan of Development", (the key public policy document of the country), calls for a reduction of the Homicide rate below 10 in the 4 years ahead. Can be feasible? Depends first if Soto remains in position, of the country political situation, (the unions are already calling for strikes next year), the inmediate crisis next door (Nicaragua), and geopolitics (Mexico, Colombia). Key facts. Costa Rica was able to reduce homicides, without no significative increase of police officers, no major legal changes, no "mano dura", no army and no major budget security increase. The resources already in place were used better and smarter. Whoever thinks good leadership is not critical for security success think again. Governments, recruiters, and corporations learn!

BACKGROUND

https://elguardian.cr/eljeterazo/cuantos-homicidios-habra-en-costa-rica-en-el-ano-2018/

https://amprensa.com/2018/05/opinion-en-abundancia-de-consejeros-hay-seguridad-prov-1114/

https://costaricaazul.com/opinion-decalogo-costa-rica-puede-revertir-la-situacion-actual-seguridad-en-2018/